International Association of Women in Radio and Television announces film festival highlighting Ukrainian women filmmakers

The International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) Chapter India is organising a day-long festival titled Mudri Zhinky: Wise Women, which will feature films made by women filmmakers from Ukraine. Curated by IAWRT member Smriti Nevatia, the screenings will be held on 3 September at the India International Centre in New Delhi.

The selection of films includes ten fiction shorts and one documentary film. The short films being screened are Solatium (2016) by Christina Tynkevych, Seed (2016) by Ksenia Bugrimova, Doors (2018) by Natalia Davydenko, Man (2018) by Oksana Artemenko, A Hanging Coffee (2019) by Oksana Taranenko, Unwanted People (2021) by Loolie Mamontenko, Broken (2021) by Solomia Tomaschuk, Hermit Crab - The Master Of Escape (2022) by Valerija Kalchenko, Оh! by Olga Zolotareva,  and Heartbreaker by Oleksandra Brovchenko.

The Earth Is Blue As An Orange (2020) directed by Iryna Tsilyk is the sole documentary feature that will be screened at the festival. There will be three online interactive sessions with the filmmakers as well.

In a statement, Nevatia said, “It was great fun to have this opportunity to create a package of films by Ukrainian women directors for an Indian audience. I'm hoping these films will inspire our viewers to hold embattled Ukraine in their thoughts even as they enjoy these cinematic voices from a country and culture about which we know so little."

She added, "Aaradhana Kohli Managing Trustee, IAWRT Chapter India who has put the Festival together is very happy that audiences here in India will be able to see for the first time, images other than of war and destruction from Ukraine. Of every day life. Of love and loss. Of pranks and friendships.” 

The event is being held In collaboration with Ukrainian Female Film Industry (UFFI). Entry to the day-long festival is free to all.